Chocolate milk is a sweet and delicious drink that many people enjoy. It contains some essential vitamins and minerals, so it also helps you reach your nutritional goals. But if you suffer from acid reflux, you may wonder whether drinking it might worsen your symptoms or make them more frequent.
To answer this question, you should know the pH level and acidity of chocolate milk. So, is chocolate milk acidic or alkaline?
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Is Chocolate Milk Acidic?
Chocolate milk contains two ingredients that tend to worsen acid reflux symptoms: chocolate and milk. Because of that, excessive consumption of chocolate milk may lead to heartburn and other issues. This drink is also high in sugar and fat, which are two nutrients that significantly worsen the symptoms of acid reflux and GERD.
It does contain some minerals and vitamins, so it's not all bad, but it's best to limit how much chocolate milk you consume.
What is the pH level of chocolate milk?
Chocolate milk has a pH level of around 6.30-6.70. While it has a relatively high pH level, chocolate milk actually has acid-forming properties due to its chocolate content. Because of that, once digested, it forces your stomach to produce more gastric acid, which can then reflux up, causing unpleasant symptoms.
Chocolate milk is also high in calories, so it can lead to weight gain, which has been associated with more severe acid reflux symptoms. Considering all of these factors, it's best to consume chocolate milk in moderation and only as a dessert.
Certain brands of chocolate milk might have lower or higher pH levels, depending on additives and other ingredients. Despite that, all chocolate milk types are acid-forming, making them bad for acid reflux, GERD, and other digestive issues.
Is chocolate milk good for you?
Chocolate milk is a very caloric drink, as just one cup contains around 208 calories. This means that it may lead to weight gain and contribute to worsening acid reflux and GERD symptoms.
Another thing to consider is that most of these calories come from fat and sugar, which are hard to digest, staying in your stomach for a long time. This means that more gastric acid accumulates in your digestive system, refluxing up your esophagus.
Another bad thing about chocolate milk is that it may cause cavities, weight gain, and even obesity, especially in small children, because of its high sugar content and the chocolate flavoring that's bad for your teeth and digestive system.
What's more, the compounds in chocolate, as well as in chocolate milk, may irritate and inflame your esophagus, leading to various health problems. As a result, it's best to limit how much chocolate milk adults, and particularly children, consume.
A glass of chocolate milk is also a wonderful source of vitamin D. This micronutrient helps your body regulate how and when your body uses phosphate and calcium. It also contributes to keeping your bones, teeth, and muscles healthy and strong.
Vitamin D has also shown a potential benefit in preventing depression and anxiety, which is a great reason to have an occasional glass of chocolate milk.
Another micronutrient that chocolate milk is high in is riboflavin. This micronutrient, also called vitamin B2, helps your body break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to produce energy and store it in your muscles. Because of that, riboflavin contributes to maintaining all vital bodily functions, so its deficiency can cause serious health issues.
Chocolate milk also contains a good amount of phosphorus. This mineral helps your muscles contract and aids in nerve signal transmission. It also helps manage your body's energy levels by utilizing all the macronutrients that you consume.
In addition, if you enjoy working out, phosphorus helps in muscle recovery by fueling it with proteins from your food.
Can you drink chocolate milk on acid reflux?
As you may know, most milk types are acidic, which means they're bad for acid reflux. In the same way, drinking chocolate milk may worsen the symptoms of acid reflux. According to research, chocolate may induce heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms since it relaxes the muscles in your esophagus, which might cause stomach acid to rise up.
Because of that, it might be best to try and limit how much chocolate milk you consume and only have it as an occasional treat.
Moreover, chocolate milk is also high in sugar, which tends to slow down digestion and cause stomach problems. It also increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and weight gain, making it more likely that you may develop acid reflux or GERD even if you haven't had these issues before.
As a result, it's important to control how many sugary foods and drinks you incorporate into your diet to stay as healthy as possible.
Is low-fat chocolate milk better for acid reflux?
Low-fat chocolate milk is higher in sugar, which means that it's more likely to stay in your stomach and force it to produce stomach acid. Because of that, low-fat chocolate milk might be worse for acid reflux and GERD.
So it might be best to stick to the full-fat version made from cow's milk, which still provides you with many nutrients and minerals. As a result, it should be OK to consume occasionally as long as your stomach tolerates it.
Low-fat chocolate milk is also lower in several minerals and vitamins. While some versions are enriched, most commercially sold brands don't provide as much nutrition as whole-fat chocolate milk.
These nutrients can help your digestive system stay healthy, so they can also help offset the negative effects of chocolate milk's acid-forming properties.
Chocolate milk contains nearly the same nutrients as cow's milk, which means that it's also acid-forming. But, unlike cow's milk, chocolate milk packs a lot of sugar, which is hard for your stomach to digest.
This may lead to excess gastric acid production, which can reflux your esophagus, causing acid reflux and GERD symptoms. Because of that, chocolate milk should be consumed only occasionally and in small quantities.
Don't know what to drink? Check out these articles: 20 Most and Least Acidic Juices and 20+ Alcoholic Drinks Ranked by Acidity Level